US2479365A - Curb and motor support for centrifugal extractors - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1949. o. w. JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed July 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I7 I H Q III I' H: t

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OSCAR w SSSSSON 8. GLYJSTAV o.' SOMMERHALTER A ORNEYS g- 16, 1949- o. w. JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed July 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 46 sq 49 O FIG-3 O O L 5| k FIG-5 5 HQ 4 OSCAR. ILHVVISNTOR OHNSON 8 Ct+STAV O. SOMMERHALTER 4.1%. ATTORNEYS 1949 o. w. JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUQAL EXTRAGTORS Filed July 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W FIG-8 ml- 57 I "mm I 5 1 59 27 5a 58 5 FlG.-7 l= 2 I I FIG-6 INVENTORS OSCAR w JOHNSON s. 4 GUSTAV o. SOMMERHALTER Ll BY ATTORNEYS Patented All 1c, 1949 aaasos AND moron sUrroa'r Foa can'rau'ucar. nxrnac'roas Oscar W. Johnson and Gustav 0. Sommerhalter,

Rochester, N. Y., align Machinery Laundry This invention relatu to centrifugal extractors such as are used'in laundries or dry cleaning plants for removing liquid detergent or cleansing agent from wearing apparel, flatwork or other articles made of textile fabrics, or even in other arts, such as in the sugar industry. The invention has particular relation to the means and manner of supporting both the curb and drivnl mechanism of an underdriven extractor.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved extractor in which the metal of the curb is uniformly and symmetrically distributed around the central axis and said curb is so mounted that, except for the effects of unbalanced load and the motor drive connections, the construction tends to absorb and dampen lateral gyratory motion of the swinging parts and reduce vibration.

Another object is to provide an improved extractor in which the driving motor is supported independently of the curb but in a manner to move with it, thus maintaining uniform belt tension and avoiding shock and jar dueto vibration.

Still another object is to provide an improved extractor in which the motor and curb, although supported independently are connected or harnessed, as it were, so that all movable parts are self-accommodating to the complex movements caused by uneven basket loading.

Another object is to provide an improved extractor in which both the extractor and motor are mounted to swing about overhead points lying in the same horizontal plane, so that they move in unison, and to the same extent. 7

Further objects are to generally simplify and improve the mounting or support for both extractor and motor and thus reduce costs of installation and service, and the harmful effects of vibration and wear.

Other objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of one form of extractor embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 2-4, Fig. 3;

Pig. 3isaplan view;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the motor port. the

I-I, Pig. 3

6 is a H. 8-

and its supview being taken from the left in Fig. 3; is a detail sectional elevation on the line detail bottom plan view on the line on to. The American Company, Cincinnati, 1 a corporation of Ohio 1 ""[Applicaiion July is. 1940, Serial No. 3,510

both 12 Claims. (01. 210-12) 2 Fig. 7 is adetails'ectionalviewonthelinel-l,

; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, but on a larger scale. showing a part of one of the curb supports.

The extractor shown in the drawings, speaking generally, is of well-known common form, so that but brief reference to many of its parts is suflicient. As illustrated it includes a base ll resting on the floor or other support and provided with a series, three being shown, of upright hollow pillars II from which depend links I! connected at their lower ends to arms I 8 secured to the bottom member id of curb ll, so that the curb is freely movable horizontally in any direction upper portion 22 of which serves as a brake drum for cooperation with a brake band 23 operated in any suitable manner, as by lever 24, Fig. 3.

The basket is rotated by a belt or belts 2! connecting pulley ii to a driving pulley 28 mounted on the shaft 21 of motor II which is secured to amember 29 suitably mounted for free horizontal motion to and fro radially only with respect to the central axis, such as by mounting it to swing upon a suitable fixed or stationary support which, for example, consists of an arm or arms mounted upon one of the pillars I I, and which is so shown, although a separate arm support may be used for the purpose. Such a motor mounting supports the motor upon the stationary base entirely independently of the curb and basket unit. Thus the weigh-t of the motor need not be taken into account from the standpoint of balance when considering the distribution of the metal of the rapidly spinning basket and its load around the central axis.

Referring first to the curb supports, the several pillars II are spaced or distributed uniformly or symmetrically about the central vertical axis at spindle it, so that the total curb and basket weight, except for possible unbalanced work load, is uniformly distributed around said axis. Links I! are rigid rods or shafts, but they are connected to the curb and supporting pillars in such manner as to provide universal motion or free swing at ends of the links. Since the connections at both ends of each link are alike, description of but one is necessary.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 8, a reduced end porwasher 36. The lower bushings support the curb.

A clamp nut 31, secured by lock washer 5'58 and cotter pin 39, securely clamps the bushings center plate against the shoulder 39 of the shaft, while a lock nut 40, threaded into the housing; compresses the cushions 35. This lock nut may be split, as at 4 I, and be distorted by set screw 42, for locking it in place. A removable cover cap 43 closes the housing on pillar I I, that in curb member [3 usually requiring no cover. Pillars Il may be provided with any necessary doors 44 for access to the moving parts housed within them.

As before stated, in the form shown, one of the pillars II at the left in Fig. serves as the base for carrying the support for the driving motor. For this purpose, said pillar is bifurcated, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to form two legs straddling an opening Ila (Fig. 2) between them, and also is provided with an outwardly extending, bifurcated, horizontal arm 45, the parallel side portions of which are provided with supporting seats 46, on which are adjustably mounted, as by bolts 41 passing through elongated slots 48, blocks 49 in which are journalled pins 50 on which the member 29 is mounted, thus enabling the motor to swing radially inwardly or outwardly, with reference to the spindle axis, about a horizontal axis at the pivot pins 50. This latter axis, it will be noted, is at substantially the same horizontal level as the centers of the cushioned mounts at the upper ends of links l2, while of course the pulleys 2|, 26 are also on the same horizontal level with each other. Thus by harnessing together, as it were, the lower portions of the motor support 29 and curb l5, a sort of parallel ruler motion is secured, with like travel of both motor and curb when either moves, and maintaining constant the spacing between the driving and driven pulleys.

For the purpose stated, I provide a link connection between the motor support and curb, which preferably also includes means for adjusting belt tension, as will appear.

Motor 28 is bolted at 5| through slots 5|a to the rear wall 52 of a housing portion of member 29, the floor 53 of said housing having a slot 54 (Figs. 2 and 6) through which the motor shaft extends. To the bottom surface of said floor are secured, by bolts 55, the parallel side arms 56 of a yoke 51. Set screws 58, 59 enable the yoke to be adjusted radially, with reference to spindle l9, bolts 55 moving along slots 60 forthe purpose. Yoke 51 is connected by double cievis 6| to a rigid drag link 62, extending through an opening Ila between the spaced legs of hifurcated pillar II, and the opposite end of which link'is connected by a similar double clevis 63 to a bracket 64 fast on the bottom of the curb member l4. This arrangement provides uni: versal relative motion, on both horizontal and vertical axes, both between the drag link and the motor support and between the drag link and curb.

Of course, the belts 25 should be selected of the proper length for the purpose. Assuming that, when the parts are properly assembled and all are at rest, the center of gravity 0! the pendant motor unit, including member 29, motor 23. pulley 26 and other parts attached thereto, should be directly beneath the axis of pins 50. Blocks 49 may be adjusted on arm 45 to secure that relation, set screws ea, 59 being used to adjust or read ust bait tension when necessary. Ear-denied ose clue motor "a "a er, enables uhe inc: tor readily to accommodate itself to the complex lateral effects due to gyratlon and precession. The manner of harnessing together and mounting the curb and motor also enables them to move in unison and without undue restraining influence of either upon the other. All of this contributes to the damping out of or reduction in vibratory movement, thus avoiding pounding and unnecessary wear. At the same time belt tension is always maintained uniform, with high efficiency in the production of driving torque and with the ability to secure any speed ratio by the use of pulleys appropriately differing in size.

What we claim is:

1. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a support, curb and motor members pivotally mounted upon said support independently of each other in side by side relation and thereby adapted to swing about different centers lying at substantially the same level, a

basket rotatable in the curb member and prof vided with a spindle, the motor member having a shaft, driving and driven pulleys on said shaft and spindle, an endless belt connecting the pulleys, a rigid link connecting the curb and motor members for maintaining uniform the tenslon of said belt, and universal couplings at opposite ends of said link, one connecting it to the motor member and the other to the curb memher.

2. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a base provided with three pillars uniformly spaced about a central vertical axis, a curb, a basket rotatable therein, supporting links connecting the upper ends of said pillars to the curb to suspend the basket in position to swing with said links and to rotate about the central axis, a motor movably mounted upon one of said pillars for free travel back and forth radially relative to the central axis, flexible driving means connecting the motor and basket at a low level, and a drag link connecting the motor and curb.

3. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 2, including means for varying the effective length of said drag link.

4. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a fixed support, a curb, a

basket rotatable in the curb, a series of supporting links for said curb spaced uniformly around the axis of basket rotation, each connected at its lower end to the curb and at its upper end being movably connected to the support for lateral swinging motion in any direction, whereby the curb and basket are free to swing laterally in any direction, a motor carrying member movably mounted upon said support with its weight carried by the support independently of the curb, said motor being movable upon and with reference to the support back and forth only in a plane radial to said axis, belt means connecting the motor and basket, and link means connecting the motor carrying member and curb so that motion of either is transmitted to the other.

5. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a stationary support provided with three pillars spaced at intervals around a central vertical axis and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane through said axis and one of said three pillars, a curb and basket unit, suspension means connecting the curb to all three pillars to suspend it therefrom with its total weight distributed symmetrically around said axis, said unit thereby being swingable universally back and forth in all directions with reference to said axis, a motor movably mounted upon and with reference to said one pillar for travel back and forth in said plane, the

weight of said motor being carried by said one pillar and the support independently of the curb, driving means connecting the motor and basket, and rigid linkage connecting the curb and motor for maintaining their spacing unaffected by motion of either thereof.

6. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 5, said one pillar being bifurcated to provide an opening therethrough, and said driving means and linkage both extending through said opening.

7. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a stationary base, a curb member having a basket mounted. therein to rotate about a vertical .axis, three pendant links swingably secured at their upper ends to the base in the same horizontal plane and at their lower ends to the curb at three points spaced substantially uniformly about said axis, whereby the total weight of all swinging parts supported by said links is distributed substantially uniformly about the central axis, a motor support pivotally mounted upon and with reference to the base at one side of the curb at a. point lying at substantially the same level as the upper ends of said links and located radially outwardly from said axis beyond one of said links, a motor mounted upon said motor support with its weight carried by the base independently of the curb, the. motor and basket being each provided with a shaft carrying a pulley, endless flexible driving means connecting said pulleys, and means connecting the curb and motor support for maintaining uniform the tension of said driving means.

8. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 7, "in which said last named means comprises a rigid link and universal joint means connecting opposite ends of said link with the motor and curb, respectively.

9. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 8, including adjusting means for 7 8 the effective length of said rigid link and the consequent spacing between the motor and basket shafts.

10. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a stationary support provided with three pillars spaced at intervals around a central vertical axis, a curb and basket unit, means for suspending said unit from and between said pillars for universal swinging motion in all directions back and forth across said axis and with the total weight of the unit distributed uniformly around said axis, a motor supported independently of the curb by oneonly of said pillars and lying in a vertical plane extending radially outwardly from said axis through said one pillar, means for mounting said motor upon its supporting pillar for free travel with reference to the support back and forth in said plane, driving means connecting the motor and basket and extending beneath the curb, and rigid linkage connecting the motor and curb.

11. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a stationary support, a curb, a basket rotatable therein on a vertical axis, means for suspending said curb from the support for free swinging motion to and fro horizontally in any direction with respect to said vertical axis, the total weight of all parts thus suspended being distributed symmetrically about said vertical axis, a motor, means for suspending said motor from said support independently of the curb on a horizontal hinge axis so that it swings to and fro in a vertical plane substantially radial with respect to said axis, driving means connecting the motor and basket, and rigid linkage connecting the motor and curb for maintaining them in definite spaced relation unaffected by swinging motion of either.

12. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a support, a curb, a basket rotatable about a vertical axis therein, means for suspending the curb from the support for free swinging movement horizontally in any direction, a motor, means for mounting the motormovably upon and with reference to the support independently of and at one side of the curb for travel back and forth with reference to said axis, means for maintaining uniform spacing between the curb and motor, and driving means operatively connecting the motor and basket.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON. GUSTAV O. sommnmn'ma.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 83,547 Austria 1908

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